My present invention, in its broad aspect, has reference to improvements in devices for supporting books, files, cards, folders, pamphlets, envelopes, plans, drawings and the like in a vertical position, and at the same time providing means for preventing the same from slipping or slumping down, and

furthermore it is my purpose to provide a device of this character wherein the means for preventing slipping constitute relatively interengaging members to hold several similarly constructed devices together of their own weight to function as a unit for a desk classifying set, book ends, file cabinet follower system, compartmented tool and artiole rack and the like. My present invention is in part divisional of my co-pending application for patent Serial #364,52d, filed May th 1929, and allowed July th 1929.

In my co-pending application for patent above referred to, Serial #364,524, the con struction of my present invention per se is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

More particularly it is my purpose to prov 25 vide a device formed of a rectangular, or

otherwise suitably shaped strip of sheet metal or the like, which is bent between its ends to provide a substantially vertical portion (constituting a vertical support) and a horizon- 80 tal portion, the horizontal portion being provided with a series of up-struck protuber- V ances, corrugations, or the like, which same are so formed that they extend above the plane of the bottom of the horizontal portion so that no part of the same is brought into contact with a table or the like, the series of corrugations, protuberances or the like, as so formed that at least the edge portions of the horizontal portions of my devices have a plane surface; that is the corrugations do not extend outwardly to the side edges of the horizontal portions of the devices. My devices are similarly formed so that when the horizontal portions are placed together par- 'tially overlapping the protuberences or corrugations will interengage, and when they are so interengaged slipping of the several devices with respect to each other either cross- Wise or longitudinally is absolutely prevent- 'ed since in effect the protuberances or corru- 1929. Serial No. 382,856.

gations of the under horizontal portion and pocketed in those of the upper horizontal portion of the neXt adjacent device. Accordingly when a number of my devices are used together as a unit, such for instance as a desk classifying or sorting set or the like they are self-aligning, locked against side slipping or disalignment relative to each other, no corrugations or sharp edges engage the support and they are held in certain relative positions by interengagement of the corrugatlOIlS;

Furthermore my devices may be so formed that they may be locked together by tongue and slot engagement so that a unit may be picked up as a Whole and transported without. disturbing the objects thereon. They may also be used as an attractive desk set, two of my devices constituting the base and another or others constituting floating or adjustable means on the base. Interpretation of the invention, in any event, should only be conelusive in the light of the claims.

In the drawings wherein my invention is illustrated Figure 1 is a perspective View of one of my devices,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a plurality of my devices in overlapping and interengaging relationship to function as a unit,

Figure 3 is a section showing the manner in which my devices may be overlapped and interengaged to serve as book ends or the like,

Figure 4, views A andlB show my device when formed with slots and a lip or tongue 1 so that they may be interlocked to be picked up and transported as a unit,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective showing the lip engaging in one of the slots in the form shown in Figure 4:,

Figures 6 -6 6 show the manner of assembling my devices to form a stationary base of a desk set; two of them being placed end to end for that purpose; and upon which are placed another device (extending one Way U5 4 in Figure 6 and another way or reverted in Figure 6) to be moved to form the desired compartments; in these views my devices all Figure 7 is a view of my device utilizing two members on the base; the horizontal portions being shorter than thoseof the members forming the base,

Figure 8 shows my devices nested for shipment, and

Figure 9 a modified form utilizing a hinge.

Referring now to the drawings in detail (1) designates the substantially vertical portion of one of my devices and (2) the relatively horizontal portion. These elements are constructed by bending a strip of sheet metal or the like between its ends so that the vertical and horizontal portions extend substantially at right angles to each other. The horizontal portion is provided in the present instance with a series of corrugations or protuberances or the like which terminate short of its side edges (3) and (4) the corrugations being indicated by the numeral (5) the corrugated portion is so formed that it lies in a plane above the lower face of the remaining parts and (4) so that only the smooth under surface of the remaining parts (3) and (4:) comes into contact with a table or the like, and if desired pads (or the like; not shown) may be added to prevent scarring of a finished wood surface such as a fine desk top. The relationship of the corrugated portions and the portions (3) and l) is shown by the shape of the front edge (6) of each device.

It is to be noted that in the present instance the corrugations are very nearly of the same length and in series, so that when the horizontal portion of one device is placed in partially overlapping relationship to the horizontal portion of another device the interengaging corrugations are pocketed so that a plurality of my present devices are selfaligning, locked against relative side slipping, and may be adjusted each with respect to the others to provide compartments of various sizes between the vertical portions (1) to hold files X, books Y, or any other objects therein.

If it is desired to interlock my devices it is merely necessary to slot the corrugated elements of each as at (7) and provide each device with a curved end lip (8) the lip being interlocked in any one of the slots when the devices are put together so that if desired they may be lifted up by grasping the hand holes (9) in the ends (1) or the like and transporting the unit with the contents undisturbed.

In Figures 6, 6 and 6 I have shown my devices used as a high class desk accessory. In view 6 two of my devices are shown placed with their ends together to form a base unit A; in Figure 6* there is shown another of my devices placed on the base unit A to serve as an adjustable follower Bin this view follower B extends with its horizontal part in one direction, but it may be reverted 0r turned around as shown in view 6. Since in views 6, 6 and 6 my devices are all of substantially the same size, the follower device B takes up about one-half the total length of the entire base part A. Dimensions, however, are not important; the only requirement being that the base members are aligning, and the follower of such size and form that the corrugations will interengage. In view 7 the length of the horizontal parts (2) of the bases of my device are greater than the length of the horizontal parts (2) of the followers; that is the length of the horizontal part of one follower is about one-fourth the entire length of the base; in this case two followers B may be used to advantage on base A and may be relatively adjusted to provide any desired sized compartments between the vertical portions 1) the vertical parts may be suitably decorated by embossing, stamping, decalcomania, or the like as shown at C. In Figure 8 my devices are shown nested together for shipment in a small package. In Figure 9 a hinge D or other suitable pivoted coupling connects the meeting ends of horizontal portions (2) of the forms shown in Figures 666 and 7 in this figure parts (2) are shown folded down-- in full linesfor shipment, and the normal position is indicated by dotted lines.

I claim 1. Interlocking devices serving as supports for files and the like having each a substantially vertical portion, and a horizontal portion, the horizontal portions overlapping part way their length, and provided with series of protuberances, and certain of the protuberances of one device being pocketed in certain of the protuberances of the next adjacent device to be locked against longitudinal or side slipping, and to self-align said 7 devices.

2. Self aligning sections for a supporting unit for files, books and the like, comprising a plurality of similarly formed members each having a substantially vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the horizontal portions provided with protuberances spaced fromtheir side edges, and certain of the protuberances of each of the several members being pocketed in those of the next adjacent member when the horizontal portions are overlapped thereby to prevent side slipping or relative longitudinal movement, and aligning said devices each with respect to the others.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pair of similarly formed members placed together end to end to form a base, each having a horizontal portion provided with corrugations and vertical portions forming supports; the corrugations of one section aligning with the corrugations of the other, and-a member similar to those forming the base placed on the horizontal portion:

III

and corrugated, said corrugations interengaging with certain of those in the base to hold said member in certain positions to provide compartments.

4. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of members having vertical portions and horizontal portions, said horizontal portions having series of corrugations over a part of their extent, and the corrugations of said horizontal portions aligning when certain of said members are placed together end to end to form a base, other members similar to the first mentioned members adapted to be placed on said first members when they are placed together to form a base, and the corrugations of the latter members being pocketed in certain of the corrugations of the members forming the base to hold said members in adjusted positions on the base.